Proxy card payment with digital receipt delivery

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein are techniques for providing a digital receipt to a consumer upon tender of payment to a merchant through the use of a proxy payment card in a financial transaction. The proxy payment card can be associated with multiple financial accounts (e.g., accounts associated with credit cards, debit cards, or gift cards). The digital receipt is automatically received at a personal computing device of the consumer in response to the financial transaction being charged to a financial account associated with the proxy payment card. The digital receipt includes information indicative of the financial transaction. The digital receipt can also include one or more interactive components that allow the consumer to interact with the transaction (and/or merchant) subsequent to transmission of the receipt, such as adding a tip, providing feedback, redeeming a promotion reward, tracking loyalty reward points, or reviewing transaction records of past and present transactions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Nonprovisional patentapplication Ser. No. 14/692,655, now granted U.S. Pat. No. 9,542,681,entitled “PROXY CARD PAYMENT WITH DIGITAL RECEIPT DELIVERY,” and filedApr. 21, 2015 which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 9,064,249,entitled “PROXY CARD PAYMENT WITH DIGITAL RECEIPT DELIVERY,” and filedOct. 13, 2014, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 8,892,462,entitled “PROXY CARD PAYMENT WITH DIGITAL RECEIPT DELIVERY,” and filedFeb. 4, 2014 and also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/901,986, entitled “INTERACTIVE DIGITAL RECEIPT,”filed on Nov. 8, 2013, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.61/894,327, entitled “PROXY FOR MULTIPLE PAYMENT MECHANISMS,” filed onOct. 22, 2013 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/894,322,entitled “AUTHORIZING A PURCHASE TRANSACTION USING A MOBILE DEVICE,”filed on Oct. 22, 2013, all of which are incorporated by referenceherein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

Today, an increasing number of financial transactions between merchantsand consumers are being conducted electronically. Many merchants havestarted to provide customers with receipts electronically (e.g., emailor online customer account). Consumers, on the other hand, have avariety of electronic based options to pay merchants (e.g., creditcards, debit cards, prepaid gift cards, or digital wallet), without theburden of having to carry cash. While these mechanisms improve thefinancial transaction experience, they also present many challenges.

For example, existing receipt solutions generally require merchants totake on extensive infrastructure changes, provide limitedfunctionalities, and make management and access a hassle for consumersdue to the variety of receipts (e.g., delivery method, set-up, format,etc.). Further, while the various payment options give flexibility toconsumers, carrying such an array of payment options can be inconvenientand burdensome (e.g., an overstuffed wallet or purse). At the end of theday, a consumer would have to remember which payment option(s) she hasused at which merchant(s), and how or where to access the receiptsassociated with the various merchants.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described and explainedthrough the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a process for paying by use of a proxy card, where aninteractive digital receipt is delivered in response to payment chargedto a payment card account associated with the proxy card;

FIG. 2 illustrates a process for paying by use of a payment object,where an interactive receipt is generated in response to payment chargedto a financial account associated with payment object;

FIG. 3A illustrates a subset of components of or associated with apayment processing system for processing financial transactions andassociated fund transfers and for delivering digital receipts indicativeof the transactions;

FIG. 3B illustrates a subset of components of or associated with anotherembodiment of a financial system for processing financial transactionsand associated fund transfers;

FIG. 4A illustrates a first embodiment of an interactive digital receiptimplemented on a personal computing device;

FIG. 4B illustrates a second embodiment of an interactive digitalreceipt implemented on a personal computing device;

FIG. 5 illustrates a method 500 for processing a payment made using apayment object, where a digital receipt is generated upon paymentauthorization of a payment account associated with the payment object;

FIG. 6 illustrates a method for processing a change of payment accountassociated with the payment object used in a financial transaction; and

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of a computer system in whichoperations described herein can be executed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In this description, references to “an embodiment”, “one embodiment” orthe like, mean that the particular feature, function, structure orcharacteristic being described is included in at least one embodiment ofthe technique introduced here. Occurrences of such phrases in thisspecification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment. Onthe other hand, the embodiments referred to also are not necessarilymutually exclusive.

Introduced here is a technology that provides an interactive digitalreceipt to a consumer for a payment transaction in response to tender ofpayment to a merchant through the use of a payment object, where thepayment object is linked to multiple payment accounts (e.g., multiplepayments cards) of the consumer. The consumer automatically receives theinteractive digital receipt at his/her personal computing device uponauthorization of payment from a selected payment account linked to thepayment object. The payment object allows the consumer to carry a singlecard or other object in place of multiple payment cards. The interactivedigital receipt not only provides a transaction record, but alsoprovides an interactive platform that allows the consumer to performvarious actions to interact with receipt components subsequent todelivery of the receipt. The actions can include, for example, tipping,providing feedback, redeeming a promotion, tracking loyalty rewardpoints, and reviewing receipts from other past transactions—all at latertime (e.g., after arriving at home). Further, the receipt components canbe configured by the merchant to accommodate business needs, such ascater to different consumers, different advertising campaigns, differenttimes of day, the look and feel.

The financial transaction referred to herein can be, for example, acard-present point-of-sale (POS) transaction where the consumer (i.e.,“customer,” “buyer,” “payer,” or the like) makes a purchase at a storefront, other “brick-and-mortar” location, or simply in the presence of amerchant (i.e., “seller,” “payee,” or the like), or an electronictransaction conducted over the Internet (e.g., enter card number of theproxy card using a web site). Further, the term “sale,” as inpoint-of-sale (POS), refers in this document to any type of paymentoriented transaction, including a lease or rental for example, and isnot limited to an actual purchase.

The payment object is referred to herein as a “proxy object,” or in thecase where the proxy object is a payment card, as a “proxy card.” Tofacilitate description, and only as an example, it is often assumed inthis description that the proxy object is a proxy card. A proxy card islinked, or associated, with multiple payment accounts of the consumer(e.g., credit card accounts, automated teller machine (ATM) or debitcard accounts, and/or gift card accounts). The proxy card can be, forexample, a magnetic stripe card physically similar to a traditionalcredit card, a smartcard (i.e., a card with embedded IC chip), a cardwith a bar code, or a card with a QR code. The consumer can have accessto all of the linked payment accounts from the proxy card, and can usethe proxy card to make a payment in which funds for the payment comefrom any of the linked payment accounts. Hence, the consumer is relievedof the burden of having to carry multiple payment cards.

An interactive digital receipt is also referred to herein as an“interactive receipt” or a “digital receipt.” An interactive receipt canbe received and displayed by a mobile software application in aconsumer's mobile device (e.g., a smartphone), and can be conveyed tothe mobile device in an electronic mail (email) message, a text message,or any other known or convenient form of electronic message, forexample. The interactive receipt is received automatically at theconsumer's device after payment authorization of any one of theconsumer's payment accounts linked to the proxy card and any othertransaction completion steps (e.g., consumer's acknowledgement of thepayment charge via, for example, a signature or a PIN). The interactivereceipt includes transaction information and one or more interactivecomponents that allow the consumer to modify the transaction (and/orinteract with the merchant) subsequent to transmission of the receipt,such as adding a tip, providing feedback to the merchant, redeeming apromotion coupon, tracking loyalty reward points, or reviewingtransaction records of past and present transactions. Hence, theconsumer can have an improved financial transaction experience, relievedof the burden to remember where and/or how to access his/her receipt forthe transaction, and able to enjoy convenient features offered by theinteractive components.

Consider the following example as an illustrative use case of thetechnology presented here. In the example, a consumer presents a proxycard to a merchant to pay for a financial transaction, such as a paymentfor service/food at a restaurant. The proxy card is swiped through acard reader provided at a point-of-sale (POS) system of the merchant. Inthe example, the proxy card is a physical card similar to any oftraditional physical payment cards. The card reader reads proxy cardinformation from the proxy card. The term “swipe” here refers to anymanner of triggering a physical card reader to read a physical card,such as passing a card through a magnetic stripe reader, smartcardreader, optical code reader, radio frequency identification (RFID)reader, etc.

After a successful swipe of the proxy card, the process of authorizingthe transaction begins. Upon successful authorization of thetransaction, a digital receipt is automatically sent to the consumer'smobile device (e.g., a smartphone). From the digital receipt, theconsumer is able to see an electronic record of the transaction and toperform an interactive action associated with the receipt. The consumerreceives the interactive receipt automatically upon paymentauthorization of any of the payment cards associated with the proxycard, regardless of whether or not the merchant in the transaction(i.e., the POS system) has any association with a transaction computersystem or service that processes the proxy card.

The authorization process begins with the card reader transmitting theproxy card information to the POS system, to which the card reader iscoupled. In some embodiments, the POS system sends the proxy cardinformation and transaction information, such as a purchase amount andname of the merchant, to a financial system. The financial system caninclude a processing service, a financial service, and a bankingservice. The processing service receives the proxy card information andthe transaction information from the POS system. The processing servicedetermines a “type” of the proxy card from the proxy card informationreceived. Examples of “types” of cards in this context include VISA andMasterCard branded payment cards. In one example, the proxy cardinformation includes encoded data indicating the card as having aparticular brand (e.g., VISA or MasterCard), and further includesadditional meta-data signifying the card as being a “different” paymentcard (e.g., a VISA branded proxy card instead of a traditional VISAbranded payment card). The processing service, based on the proxy cardinformation, recognizes the “type” (e.g., brand) of the proxy card andsends the transaction information to a particular financial service thatprocesses payment cards having that brand (e.g. VISA's VisaNet PaymentSystem in the case of a VISA branded card).

The particular financial service, in response to detecting the meta-dataincluded in the proxy card information, forwards the transactioninformation to a transaction computer system for further processing. Inthis example, the transaction information is forwarded to a particulartransaction computer system associated with an IP address that iscontained in the meta-data. The transaction computer system uses theproxy card information to access a database containing various dataassociated with the proxy card, such as the consumer's name and paymentaccounts associated with the proxy card. In some embodiments, thetransaction computer system selects a payment account to use forauthorizing the payment based on an algorithm, from multiple accounts ofthe consumer that are associated with the proxy card. The transactioncomputer system can make the selection based on any of various criteria,and the consumer can be given the ability to modify those criteria(e.g., via a website associated with the transaction computer system).In other embodiments, the transaction computer system selects thepayment account by prompting the consumer to make a selection via theconsumer's mobile device. The transaction computer system then sends thetransaction information and payment account information of the selectedpayment account to the financial service that handles that “type” ofaccount for further processing.

In one example, the “type” of the selected payment account is aMasterCard branded payment card. In that case, the transaction computersystem sends the transaction information and the payment accountinformation to the financial service that processes MasterCard brandedpayment cards (e.g. MasterCard's BankNet network). MasterCard's BankNetnetwork determines a particular banking service associated with thepayment account, and forwards the transaction information and thepayment account information to that banking service for furtherprocessing. A typical banking service manages payment accounts includingfunds in or available to the payment accounts. As such, when the bankingservice receives the transaction and payment account information, itdetermines that the payment account has access to adequate funds for thepayment, and sends an authorization for the payment to the POS system.

In some embodiments, the POS system sends the transaction information tothe transaction computer system on which a financial transactionplatform is implemented (instead of a financial system as discussed inthe preceding example). The financial transaction platform enablesmultiple payers to engage in financial transactions with multiple payeesincluding processing payments made by the payers using payment cards.The processing includes causing a transfer of funds from accountsassociated with the payment cards to accounts associated with thepayees. The financial transaction platform has access to the databasethat contains the various data associated with the proxy card. Thefinancial transaction platform determines that the transactioninformation includes proxy card information, and accesses the databaseto select a payment account to use for authorizing the payment.Alternately, the financial transaction platform can prompt the consumerto select a payment account via the consumer's mobile device.

In such embodiments, the financial transaction platform sends thetransaction information and the selected payment account information tothe financial service that handles that “type” of payment account forfurther processing. Similar to the preceding example, the financialservice forwards the transaction information to a banking serviceassociated with the payment account, and the banking service sends anauthorization for the payment to the POS system. In some embodiments, itis the financial transaction platform that sends the authorization forthe payment to the POS system. In some embodiments, the financialtransaction platform sends the authorization for the payment to thefinancial system, which relays the authorization to the POS system.

At the point that the POS system receives the payment authorization andthe consumer agrees to the financial transaction, such as by providing asignature or a personal identification number (PIN), the financialtransaction is complete. If the consumer does not later change thepayment account selection, the financial system will transfer funds fromthe payment account to an account associated with the merchant to fundthe payment.

Further, at this point when the financial transaction is complete, thetransaction computer system delivers an interactive digital receiptassociated with the transaction to the consumer at her mobile device.The interactive receipt can be generated by a digital receipt systemcoupled to the computer system. The consumer can then use her mobiledevice to access and view the interactive receipt. In one example, theconsumer looks at the receipt while still sitting at the merchant'srestaurant after having approved the payment card charge. In anotherexample, the consumer looks at it again when she arrives home.

The interactive receipt is a receipt that “lives on” subsequent to itsdelivery to the consumer's device. In addition to providing transactioninformation (e.g., payment amount, item description, purchase date,etc.), the interactive receipt operates as an interactive platform. Theinteractive platform allows the merchant to deliver various interactivecomponents via the receipt to the consumer. The interactive componentsallow the consumer to perform one or more actions, via her device, tointeract with the transaction (and/or merchant) later on after thetransaction has been completed. In some embodiments, the interactivereceipt, including its interactive components, is configurable by themerchant. The merchant can configure the interactive receipt to cater todifferent consumers, different advertising campaigns, different times ofday, and/or adjust the look and feel. For example, the merchant causesthe interactive receipt to present certain interactive components thatare reserved for the merchant's most loyal consumers, where othercustomers do not have such components presented on their interactivereceipts.

The interactive components can include, for example, a tippingcomponent, a feedback component, loyalty rewards record, promotionredemption, or an all-time transaction record of interactive receiptsfrom past and present transactions conducted using the proxy card with avariety of different merchants. In some embodiments, the interactivecomponents are time-based, where the components are configured by themerchant to be available to the consumer for a predefined time period(e.g., can leave a feedback within two days of transaction).

For example, the tipping component is configured to allow the consumerto add a tip (gratuity) on top of the payment amount within two hours ofher restaurant visit. In such an example, the consumer can add the tipafter approving the payment authorization at the restaurant, or can addthe tip at home while reviewing the transaction details. In anotherexample, the merchant delivers to the customer, via the interactivereceipt, a promotional $10 coupon. In such example, the $10 value of thecoupon decreases based on how long it has been since the consumer hascompleted the original transaction at the merchant's store. The value ofthe coupon ultimately decreases to $0 in accordance with the passage oftime, and the sooner the customer redeems the coupon, the higher thevalue she gets.

In addition to the various features of the interactive components, theconsumer has the option to change the payment account associated withthe proxy card to make the payment to the merchant. In some embodiments,the option to change the payment account may be embodied in aninteractive component of the interactive receipt. In an illustrativeexample, when the consumer gets home, she uses her mobile device (e.g.,a smart phone or tablet computer) to communicate with the transactioncomputer system, where the consumer requests to view the transaction(e.g., payment account utilized for payment in the proxy cardtransaction). In one example, the consumer communicates with thetransaction computer system by accessing the interactive receiptreceived at the consumer's mobile device and interacting with a proxycard interactive component, or “payment object interactive component”via the interactive receipt. In another example, the consumercommunicates with the transaction computer system by accessing a pop-upmessage (e.g., notification) that appears on the consumer's mobile phoneafter the transaction, where the message prompts the consumer whethershe wishes to change the payment account.

The transaction computer system, in response to the consumer's request,sends information regarding the consumer's recent transaction, such asthe merchant, the date, and the purchase amount, to the consumer via theconsumer's mobile device. The transaction computer system further sendsinformation regarding the payment accounts that are associated with theconsumer's proxy card. The information may be sent, for example, via aproxy card interactive component of the interactive receipt. Theconsumer, using her mobile device, selects a second payment account fromwhich funds for the payment are to be obtained. Receiving thisselection, the transaction computer system cancels the payment that waspreviously authorized, and, similar to the preceding examples, sends thetransaction information and the second payment account information tothe financial system for processing. The financial system transfersfunds from the second payment account to the account associated with themerchant to fund the payment.

Other aspects and advantages of the disclosed technology will becomeapparent from the following description in combination with theaccompanying drawings, illustrating, by way of example, the principlesof the disclosed technology.

FIG. 1 illustrates a process for paying for a purchase using a proxycard, where an interactive digital receipt is delivered in response toauthorization of a payment card associated with the proxy card,according to various embodiments of the disclosed technology. While theexample of FIG. 1 involves paying for a purchase of goods using theproxy card, the disclosed technology can be used to make any electronicpayment, including payments for the purchase of services, for rentals,for financial transactions, etc. The example process illustrated in FIG.1 has four phases, including card swipe 160, payment authorization 170,receipt delivery 180 and post-transaction interaction 190.

The transaction illustrated in FIG. 1 starts when a buyer presents aproxy card 102 to a seller. In one example, proxy card 102 is a magneticstripe card physically similar to a credit card. Proxy card 102 may beassociated with one or more payment cards belonging to the buyer. Apayment card can be, for example, a credit card, an ATM card, a debitcard, a pre-paid credit card, a pre-paid debit card, a gift card, astored value card, a fleet card, and the like.

Seller 104 initiates the financial transaction with a card swipe at step162 by swiping proxy card 102 through a card reader 108. Card reader 108is coupled to POS system 110. Through the swipe, card reader 108 obtainsinformation from proxy card 102 (“proxy card information”). The proxycard information includes identifying information for the proxy card andmeta-data which can be used to determine that proxy card 102 is a proxycard (as opposed to a normal credit/debit/ATM card), among otherpurposes. Card reader 108 sends the proxy card information at step 164to POS system 110.

POS system 110 then begins the second phase, which is paymentauthorization 170. At step 172, POS system 110 transmits the proxy cardinformation, in addition to information associated with the purchasetransaction (i.e., “transaction information”), to a financial system 120to start the payment authorization process. The transaction informationincludes, for example, the payment amount of the transaction,information regarding the seller, and/or individual line itemdescriptions from the transaction.

At step 174, upon receiving the proxy card information and thetransaction information, financial system 120 parses the meta-data anddetermines, based on the meta-data, to send a message to transactioncomputer system 130. The meta-data can include data such as an IPaddress or a phone number that indicate where the message should be sent(e.g., to a particular transaction computer system). The message sent totransaction computer system 130 can include all or part of the proxycard information and the transaction information, among otherinformation.

Transaction computer system 130, upon receiving the proxy cardinformation, selects a particular payment account, from one or morepayment accounts corresponding to one or more payment cards of a buyer,to use for the purchase transaction. In particular, transaction computersystem 130, using the proxy card information, accesses a database toobtain payment account information associated with proxy card 102. Atstep 175, transaction computer system 130 applies an algorithm, whichcan be customized by the buyer, to select the particular payment accountbased on the payment account information. The algorithm can make theselection based on any of various criteria. For example, transactioncomputer system 130 selects an account that is a VISA branded paymentcard account.

At step 176, upon selecting the payment card account, transactioncomputer system 130 transmits the transaction information and thepayment account information to financial system 120. Using theinformation associated with the selected payment account received fromtransaction computer system 130, financial system 120 determines theresults of the payment authorization. If the payment account has accessto adequate funds for the payment, and no other issue is identified,financial system 120 determines that the result of payment authorizationis that the payment is authorized. If some issue is identified (e.g.,insufficient funds, fraud alert, etc.), financial system 120 determinesthat the result of payment authorization is that the payment isdeclined. At step 178, financial system 120 then transmits the resultsof the payment authorization to POS system 110. In some embodiments,transaction computer system 130, instead of financial system 120,determines and sends the results of the payment authorization to POSsystem 110.

At this point, assuming that the purchase transaction was authorized andthe consumer accepted the purchase transaction, the purchase transactionis complete, and phase three receipt delivery 180 begins. In someembodiments, the buyer's acceptance of the purchase transaction mayinvolve obtaining a signature or a PIN from buyer (as approval of theauthorization) to complete the transaction. This may include, forexample, transaction computer system causing a user interface to begenerated on a display of POS system 110 to prompt for inputs from thebuyer, as indicated by step 182 a. In some embodiments, the buyer'sacceptance of the purchase transaction involves transaction computersystem 130 causing an image of a receipt to be generated on a userinterface of the display of POS system 110, and prompting the buyer toprovide an electronic signature to sign the receipt image, as indicatedby step 182 b. In some embodiments, the buyer's acceptance of thepurchase transaction includes prompting the buyer to select whether shewishes to obtain an electronic receipt for the transaction. This may beimplemented, for example, by transaction computer system 130 causing auser interface to be generated on a display of POS system 110, asindicated by step 182 c. In some embodiments, the buyer's acceptance ofthe purchase transaction includes causing an interactive receipt 150indicative of the transaction to be generated and transmitted to apersonal computing device 140 of the buyer, as indicated by step 184.Interactive receipt 150 can be in the form of a text message, an email,or a mobile application.

In some embodiments, transaction computer system 130 causes interactivereceipt 150 to be sent to the consumer based on an association of thepersonal computing device with proxy card 102. In such embodiments, whentransaction computer system 230 receives an indication of thetransaction (e.g., receives payment authorization and/or consumer'stransaction approval), computer system 130 identifies a personalcomputing device associated with proxy card 102. For example, the cardnumber of proxy card 102 is associated with a mobile number of theconsumer's mobile phone. In such example, whenever the consumer usesproxy card 102, transaction computer system 130 automatically generatesand sends a digital receipt to the consumer's mobile phone having theassociated mobile number.

At step 184, a digital receipt system, coupled to transaction computersystem 130, generates an interactive receipt in response to successfulpayment authorization and final approval of buyer of the payment charge.As discussed above, the authorization occurs when payment is authorizedby a particular payment account of a payment card linked to proxy card102. In some embodiments, digital receipt system is a standalonecomputer system in communication with transaction computer system 130and POS system 110. In some embodiments, digital receipt system is apart of transaction computer system 130. For example, when POS system110 receives payment authorization and a submission from buyer 110 toclose out the transaction, POS system 110 sends an indication totransaction computer system 130 of such occurrence (i.e., completedtransaction). Transaction computer system 130, coupled to digitalreceipt system, causes generation and delivery of a digital receipt topersonal computing device 140. The digital receipt can be displayed, forexample, on a portion or an entirety of a display screen of personalcomputing device 140.

The digital receipt includes transaction information indicative of thefinancial transaction. The digital receipt can also include one or moreinteractive components to allow buyer to interact with various featuresassociated with the financial transaction, subsequent to completion ofthat transaction (and to delivery of the receipt). The transactioninformation can include, for example, a list of purchased items andcorresponding prices. The transaction information can be displayed in a“transaction component” on the display screen of device 140 to includetransaction details. Interactive components can be generated and madeavailable to the buyer within a predefined time period subsequent toreceipt delivery at computing device 140. The predefined time period isconfigurable by seller and allows seller to provide time-basedincentives to engage buyer. Further details regarding the interactivecomponents and the transaction component will be discussed in FIGS. 4Aand 4B.

Phase four post-transaction interaction 190 is an optional processprovided by the disclosed technology at which buyer is able to performvarious actions associated with the financial transaction at a latertime. In phase four 190, buyer is able to change payment accounts fromwhich funds are transferred to pay for the transaction and able tointeract with various features associated with the transaction via theinteractive receipt. If the buyer does not utilize this phase to changepayment accounts, financial system 120 will transfer funds for thepayment from the selected payment account to an account associated withthe seller.

Consider an illustrative example when buyer arrives at home aftercompleting the financial transaction, where buyer decides to completetwo things: (1) change payment account from which funds are to beobtained to pay the purchase; and (2) to leave a tip for seller.

The buyer uses personal computing device 140 (e.g., an iPad) to initiatethe payment account change which includes steps 192, 194, and 196. Atstep 192, personal computing device 140 communicates with transactioncomputer system 130 to initiate the change. At step 194, transactioncomputer system 130 provides information regarding the purchasetransaction to the consumer via personal computing device 140. In someembodiments, the information regarding the purchase transaction isprovided via the digital receipt. In one example, the information isprovided via an interactive component of the digital receipt. In anotherexample, the information is provided within the body of a text message,where the receipt is in the form of the text message. Examples of theinformation provided include the date of the purchase, informationregarding the seller, and the amount of the purchase. Transactioncomputer system 130 further provides information regarding the paymentaccounts associated with proxy card 102 to the buyer via personalcomputing device 140. Transaction computer system 130 has access to adatabase containing various information associated with proxy card 102,as well as associated with buyer and the payment accounts associatedwith proxy card 102.

When there are multiple payment accounts associated with proxy card 102,buyer, using personal computing device 140, can select any paymentaccount associated with proxy card 102 from which funds for the paymentare to be obtained. At step 194, personal computing device 140 transmitsinformation indicating the selection to computer system 130. After theselection is made, at step 196 transaction computer system 130 transmitsinformation related to the selection, such as identifying informationfor the selected payment account, to financial system 120, which causesfinancial system 120 to obtain funds for the purchase from the selectedpayment account. Transaction computer system 130 additionally preventsthe funds to be obtained from the initially selected payment account,such as by canceling the payment authorization initially obtained fromthe initially selected payment account.

Buyer next uses personal computing device 140 to submit a gratuityamount, or tip amount, on top of the purchase payment, as indicated instep 198. Buyer submits an amount using a tipping interactive componentof interactive receipt, where the amount is transmitted to transactioncomputer system 130. Transaction computer system 130 sends the tipamount to financial system 120. Financial system 120, which has grantedpayment authorization for the purchase amount, adds the tip amount tothe authorization. Financial system 120 then sends the amount to POSsystem 110, informing POS system 110 the tip amount added by buyer.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a process for paying for a purchase using apayment object, where an interactive receipt is generated in response topayment authorization associated with payment object, in accordance withvarious aspects of the disclosed technology. In the example illustratedin FIG. 2, the purchase process has four phases.

The first phase is object presentation 260. A consumer has object 208,which is referred to herein as both a proxy object as well as a paymentobject. Object 208 has associated payment accounts, and can be a proxycard with associated payment accounts. The consumer presents object 208to the merchant to pay for a purchase. Because object 208 is compatiblewith financial system 220, object 208 can be presented to the merchantin a way which enables the merchant to obtain information related toobject 208 sufficient to enable initiation of payment authorization 270,which is phase two.

As a first example, object 208 can be proxy card 102 of FIG. 1. Objectpresentation 260 includes presenting the proxy card so that the proxycard can be read by object identifier 210. In this example, objectidentifier 210 is a POS system including a card reader in which the cardreader is able to obtain information associated with object 208 (i.e.the proxy card) sufficient to initiate payment authorization 270. As asecond example, object 208 can be a finger. Object presentation 260 canbe, for example, presenting the finger so that the fingerprint of thefinger can be read by object identifier 210. In this second example,object identifier is a biometric finger scanner capable of obtaininginformation related to object 208 (i.e. the finger) sufficient to enableinitiation of payment authorization 230.

Object identifier 210 begins the second phase, which is paymentauthorization 270 and includes steps 272, 274, 276, 277, and 278.Payment authorization 270 includes the steps for obtaining authorizationfor the payment related to the purchase transaction. Paymentauthorization 270 starts with step 272. At step 272, object identifier210 obtains object information associated with object 208. For example,a POS system obtains proxy card information from the magnetic stripe ofthe proxy card. Step 272 continues with the transmission of the objectinformation to financial system 220. For example, the POS systemtransmits the proxy card information to financial system 220.Information related to the purchase transaction (i.e. the transactioninformation), such as the amount of the purchase, is also transmitted tofinancial system 220.

Object identifier 210 can be, for example, a card reader which transmitsthe object information and the transaction information to financialsystem 220. Financial system 220 receives the transmitted information,and based on this information, decides to relay the transmittedinformation to transaction computer system 130 for further processing.At step 274, financial system 220 relays the transmitted information,along with other information, to transaction computer system 230.

For example, financial system 220 receives the transmitted proxy cardinformation, which includes meta-data, and the purchase amount. Uponreceiving the proxy card information, and based on the proxy cardinformation, financial system 220 decides to relay the transmittedinformation to transaction computer system 230. At this point in time,financial system 220 does not have the information needed to complete orauthorize the purchase transaction, as financial system 220 withouttransaction computer system 230 is not able to determine a paymentaccount associated with the proxy card to use for the purchasetransaction.

Transaction computer system 230, upon receiving the proxy cardinformation, accesses a database access to obtain payment accountinformation associated with the proxy card information. At step 275,transaction computer system 230 applies an algorithm, which can becustomized by the consumer, to select the payment account to use for thepurchase transaction. The following are examples of algorithms, orpolicies, which can additionally be used for step 175 of FIG. 1

-   -   1) When there are multiple payment accounts associated with        object 208 and until changed by the consumer or some other        entity, the same (single) payment account is used for all        payment made using object 208.    -   2) The payment account used can be different for each purchase        transaction as well for each line item of a purchase transaction        based on a payment account selection algorithm.

For example, a consumer can use a proxy card to purchase gas and a snackitem at a gas station as part of a single purchase transaction. For thispurchase transaction, the payment account selection algorithm can selecta gas credit card associated with the proxy card for the gas line item,and can select a VISA credit card associated with the proxy card for thesnack line item. In some embodiments, the consumer can set, modify, orchange the algorithm for selecting the payment account to use for apurchase transaction. In some embodiments, the algorithm is based oninputs received from the consumer.

At step 276, transaction computer system 230 transmits the transactioninformation and the payment account information to financial system 220,and financial system 220 determines the results of payment authorization270 using the selected payment account. If the payment account hasaccess to adequate funds for the payment, and no other issue exists,financial system 220 determines that the result of payment authorization270 is that the payment is authorized.

If some issue exists, such as the payment account does not have accessto adequate funds for the payment or the payment account has a fraudalert, financial system 220 determines that the result of paymentauthorization 270 is that the payment is declined. Other results, suchas declining the purchase transaction and instructing the merchant totake possession of the proxy card, or additional information, such as anauthorization number, can be transmitted to financial system 220 at step276. At step 278, financial system 220 transmits the results of paymentauthorization 270 to object identifier 210.

In some embodiments, instead of financial system 220 determining andsending the results of payment authorization 270, transaction computersystem 230 determines and sends the results of the paymentauthorization. Transaction computer system 230 decides the paymentauthorization based on information such as the consumer's credit reportsor scores and the history of past payments processed by transactioncomputer system 230. Transaction computer system 230 can send thepayment authorization results to object identifier 210, or can send theresults to financial system 220, which can relay the results to objectidentifier 210.

At this point, assuming that the purchase transaction was authorized andthe consumer accepted the purchase transaction, the purchase transactionis complete, and phase three receipt delivery 280 begins. At step 284, adigital receipt system, coupled to transaction computer system 230,generates a digital receipt in response to successful paymentauthorization and final approval from the consumer of the payment chargeassociated with the proxy object, such as a proxy payment card).

In some embodiments, the digital receipt system is a standalone computersystem in communication with transaction computer system 230 and objectidentifier 210. In some embodiments, the digital receipt system is apart of transaction computer system 230. For example, when objectidentifier 210 receives payment authorization and a submission fromconsumer to close out the transaction, object identifier 210 sends anindication to transaction computer system 230 of such occurrence (i.e.,completed transaction). Transaction computer system 230, coupled to thedigital receipt system, causes generation and delivery of the digitalreceipt to personal computing device 240. The digital receipt can bedisplayed, for example, on a portion or an entirety of a display screenof personal computing device 240. The digital receipt can be in the formof a text message, an email, or a mobile application. The digitalreceipt includes transaction information associated with the transactionbetween the consumer and the merchant. In some embodiments, the digitalreceipt includes one or more interactive components to allow theconsumer to interact with various features associated with the financialtransaction, subsequent to completion of that transaction (and todelivery of the receipt).

Phase four post-transaction interaction 290 is an optional processprovided by the disclosed technology at which consumer is able toperform various actions associated with the financial transaction at alater time. In phase four 290, consumer is able to change paymentaccounts from which funds are transferred to pay for the transaction andable to interact with various interactive components associated with thetransaction via the interactive receipt.

Consider an illustrative example in which the consumer arrives at homeafter completing the financial transaction, where consumer decides tocomplete two things: (1) change payment account from which funds are tobe obtained to pay the purchase; and (2) to leave feedback for merchant.It is noted that if the consumer does not utilize this phase to changepayment accounts, financial system 220 will transfer funds for thepayment from the selected payment account to an account associated withthe merchant.

The consumer uses personal computing device 240 (e.g., an iPad) toinitiate the payment account change which includes steps 292, 294, and296. At step 292, personal computing device 240 communicates withtransaction computer system 230 to initiate change of payment account290 a. At step 294, transaction computer system 230 provides informationregarding the purchase transaction to the consumer via personalcomputing device 240. Examples of the information provided include thedate of the purchase, information regarding the merchant, and the amountof the purchase. Transaction computer system 230 further providesinformation regarding the payment accounts associated with object 208 tothe consumer via personal computing device 240. Transaction computersystem 230 has access to a database containing various informationassociated with object 208 as well as associated with the consumer andthe payment accounts associated with object 208.

When there are multiple payment accounts associated with object 208, theconsumer, using personal computing device 240, can select any paymentaccount associated with object 208 from which funds for the payment areto be obtained. At step 294, personal computing device 240 transmitsinformation indicating the selection to transaction computer system 230.After the selection is made, at step 296 transaction computer system 230transmits information related to the selection, such as payment accountinformation, to financial system 220. This causes financial system 220to obtain funds for the payment from the selected payment account.Transaction computer system 230 additionally prevents the funds frombeing obtained from the initially selected payment account, such as bycanceling the payment from the initially selected payment account. Thefunds can correspond to the amount of the purchase, the amount of a lineitem, the amount of multiple line items, or some other amountcorresponding to the purchase, and can be transferred to an accountassociated with the merchant. The funds transferred can correspond to anamount by being for the amount less a transaction fee. Further, purchasetransactions can be batched, and the funds can be for an amountcorresponding to the amount of the batch of purchase transactions.

Using personal computing device 240, consumer next performs variousactions to interact with various features offered through theinteractive receipt, which is automatically received at the device 240upon successful payment authorization and approval from consumer.Consumer's interactions are sent to payment mechanism 230 at step 298.The various interactions may be ongoing as requests and responsesbetween computer system 230 and computing device 240 subsequent to thetransaction, as indicated in step 300. In one example, consumer leaves afeedback for the merchant using a feedback component offered via theinteractive receipt. In another example, consumer redeems a promotionalreward offered by the merchant via a promotion component of theinteractive receipt. In yet another example, consumer submits a tip forservice rendered by merchant in the completed transaction. Depending onthe interactions, transaction computer system 240 may communicate withfinancial system 220 and object identifier 210 to carry out consumer'srequests.

Now turning to object 208. In various embodiments, object 208 can be amagnetic stripe card, a smart card, a proximity card, a re-programmablemagnetic stripe card, an card containing an optical code such as a quickresponse (QR) code or a bar code, or a biometrically identifiableobject, such as a finger, a hand, an iris, or a face, among others.Object 208 can be associated with various payment objects and paymentobject accounts, including accounts associated with credit cards, ATMcards, debit cards, pre-paid credit cards, pre-paid debit cards, giftcards, and fleet cards, among others. The payment accounts can beassociated with object 208 by, for example, being linked to object 208.The link can be implemented, for example, using a database which linksobject 208 with the payment accounts. Further, object 208 can beassociated with loyalty programs, wherein the loyalty programs areanother type of payment account which can be used to make the purchase.In some embodiments, object 208 can be a mobile device. Examples ofmobile devices include smart phones, tablets, portable media devices,wearable devices, laptops, and other portable computers.

Object identifier 210 can obtain information associated with object 208,the information being part of the object information. In embodimentswhere object 208 is a magnetic stripe card or a re-programmable magneticstripe card, object identifier 210 can read the magnetic stripe. Inembodiments where object 208 is a smart card, object identifier 210 cancommunicate with the smart card to obtain information related to object208. In embodiments where object 208 is a proximity card, objectidentifier 210 can cause the proximity card to transmit informationassociated with the proximity card, such as a radio frequencyidentification (RFID), which object identifier 210 can receive. Inembodiments where object 208 is a card with an optical code such as a QRcode or bar code, object identifier 210 can obtain the optical code, forexample, by scanning the optical code. Object identifier 210 can furthertransmit the object information to financial system 220.

Object identifier 210 can further include a sales system, such as POSsystem 110 of FIG. 1. Examples of sales systems include point-of-sale(POS) systems, cash registers, computer systems running salesapplications including mobile devices running sales applications, cloudbased POS systems, checkout registers, computer systems running internetbased applications such as a web browser, and the like.

In embodiments where object 208 is a biometrically identifiable object,such as a finger, a hand, an iris, or a face, object identifier 210 canidentify the biometrically identifiable object or can obtain informationfrom the biometrically identifiable object and can transmit thatinformation to a computer system that can use the information toidentify the biometrically identifiable object. For example, when thebiometrically identifiable object is a finger, object identifier 210 canobtain data related to the fingerprint of the finger. In someembodiments, object identifier 210 can recognize the fingerprint toidentify the finger (e.g. this is the finger of Jane Doe). For example,object identifier 210 can include a biometric scanner coupled to acomputer system such as a POS system, wherein the biometric scanner canscan the consumer's fingerprint, can transmit the biometric scan resultsto the computer system to which the biometric scanner is coupled, andthe computer system can use the consumer's fingerprint to identify thefinger. In other embodiments, object identifier 210 can transmit thedata related to the fingerprint to a second computer system, forexample, to a compute server associated with the merchant, to financialsystem 220, to transaction computer system 230, or to another computersystem, and the second computer system can use the transmittedfingerprint data to identify the finger. The second computer system cantransmit identifying information associated with the finger to objectidentifier 210, the identifying information being part of the objectinformation. Object identifier 210 can further transmit the objectinformation to financial system 220.

In embodiments where object 208 is a mobile device, object identifier210 can obtain identifying information associated with the mobiledevice. In one example where object 208 is a smart phone, objectidentifier 210 can communicate with the smart phone via 3G to obtainidentifying information related to a digital wallet associated with thesmart phone, the identifying information being part of the objectinformation. Object identifier 210 in various embodiments cancommunicate with the mobile device via WiFi, 3G, 4G, Near FieldCommunication (NFC), or Bluetooth, or can obtain an optical code such asa QR code or a bar code or any machine readable code from the mobiledevice, for example, by scanning an optical code displayed by the mobiledevice. Object identifier 210 can further transmit the objectinformation to financial system 220.

Object 208 can be associated with multiple payment accounts, and aloyalty program can be a payment account. In some embodiments, theloyalty program can be managed on behalf of the consumer via a loyaltyrewards interactive component offered through the interactive receiptreceived at the consumer's personal computing device 240. Maintainingand offering the loyalty rewards interactive component, a merchant isable to customize offers that would incentivize certain behaviors incustomers, i.e., to engage them in interacting more with the merchantvia the interactive receipt.

For example, the merchant may want the consumer to return to themerchant's store, or to purchase a certain item, or to return to thestore during at a certain time or during a certain time window and makea purchase. To incentivize behaviors such as these, a merchant canparticipate in or offer a loyalty program. The merchant can provideloyalty points or some equivalent for each purchase made by a consumer.By coming back to the merchant's store and making additional purchases,the consumer can grow the loyalty points. The loyalty points can beredeemed for purchases made at the merchant's store or another of themerchant's stores or with other businesses that participate in theloyalty program.

In addition to incentivizing loyalty to a store or a brand by providingloyalty points for purchases made at the store or for brand products, amerchant can use the loyalty program to incentivize other behaviors. Forexample, if the store has a slow period, such as a coffee shop is slowbetween 3 pm and 4 pm, the store owner can, in order to incentivizeconsumers to make purchases at the store during this slow time, offerincreased loyalty points for purchases made between 3 pm and 4 pm at thestore. The store owner can also offer increased redemption value for aconsumer's loyalty points, or can lower the cost of products or servicesin terms of loyalty points, during this time window. For example, thestore owner could offer to redeem 100 loyalty points and provide 150points of value, or could reduce an item that normally costs 150 loyaltypoints to 100 loyalty points, for purchases made between 3 pm and 4 pm.As another example, if a business owner wants to incentivize consumersto purchase a new item the business owner is introducing, the businessowner can offer increased loyalty points to consumers for purchasingthis new item. The business owner can also offer increased loyalty pointredemption value or reduced loyalty point costs to a consumer forpurchasing this new item using loyalty program points. For example, ifthe new item can be normally purchased with 150 loyalty points, thebusiness owner can offer 150 points of loyalty program value for 100redeemed loyalty points to a consumer for purchasing this new item, orthe business owner can reduce the cost of the new item to 100 loyaltypoints.

FIG. 3A is an illustration of a subset of components of or associatedwith a payment processing system for processing purchase transactionsand associated fund transfers and for delivering interactive digitalreceipts indicative of the transactions, according to variousembodiments of the disclosed technology. The following description ofFIG. 3 will be described using the transaction illustrated in FIG. 1,and will refer to labels of that figure. The following description ofFIG. 3A also applies to FIG. 3B, except where differences are noted.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3A, financial system 120 includes processingservice 320, financial service 330, and banking service 126. In someembodiments, financial system 120 can include transaction computersystem 170, such as in the embodiment of FIG. 3B. FIG. 3B is anillustration of components of or associated respectively with anotherembodiment of a payment processing system. In the embodiment of FIG. 3B,transaction computer system 130 is under the control of banking service126. In another embodiment, transaction computer system 130 is under thecontrol of financial service 124. In another embodiment, transactioncomputer system 130 is under the control of processing service 122.

The transaction of this example starts when a consumer 300 presentsproxy card 102 to merchant 310, the proxy card being a magnetic stripecard similar to a credit card. Merchant 310 initiates card swipe byswiping proxy card 102 through card reader 108. Card reader 108 thensends the information obtained from proxy card 102, the proxy cardinformation, to POS system 110. Card reader 108 is coupled to POS system110. Payment authorization 130 starts when POS system 110 transmits theproxy card information to financial system 120. In the example of FIG.1, proxy card 102 is encoded as a VISA branded payment card.

POS system 110 transmits the proxy card information to financial system120, where the proxy card information is received by processing service122. An example of processing service 122 is Bank of America MerchantServices. Processing service 122, based on the received proxy cardinformation, determines that proxy card 102 is encoded as a VISA brandedpayment card. Based on this determination, processing service 122 relaysthe received information to the financial service that processes VISAbranded payment cards. In this example, financial service 124 is VISA'sVisaNet Payment System, which processes payments made using VISA brandedpayment cards.

The proxy card information includes meta-data which financial service124 uses to determine to transmit the proxy card and transactioninformation to transaction computer system 130. As illustrated in FIG.3B, in various embodiments transaction computer system 130 can be underthe control of a processing service, a financial service, or a bankingservice. Financial service 124, upon determining to transmit informationassociated with proxy card 102 to transaction computer system 130,transmits information associated with proxy card 102 to transactioncomputer system 130.

Transaction computer system 130 selects the payment account to use forthe purchase transaction, which in this example is also a VISA brandedpayment card account. Transaction computer system 130 sends thetransaction information and the payment account information to financialsystem 120. In the embodiment of FIG. 3A, this includes sending thetransaction and payment account information to financial service 124.Transaction computer system 130 sends the transaction and paymentaccount information to financial service 124 based on a determinationthat the selected payment account is a VISA branded payment account, andbased on a determination that financial service 124 is the financialservice that processes payments made using VISA branded payment cards.

Transaction computer system 130 can send the transaction and paymentaccount information to different financial services when payments fromthe selected payment account are processed by other financial services.Financial service 124 determines that the payment account is managed bybanking service 126, and sends the transaction and payment accountinformation to banking service 126. An example of a banking service isChase Bank. Banking service 126 determines the result of paymentauthorization, and sends the results of the authorization to POS system110.

At this point, assuming that the purchase transaction was authorized andthe consumer accepted the purchase transaction, the purchase transactionis complete. Upon completion of the transaction, a digital receiptsystem 132, coupled to transaction computer system 130, generates andcauses an interactive digital receipt, or digital receipt 150, to bedelivered to computing device 140 of consumer 320. At a later time, forexample when the consumer arrives at home, the consumer can optionallyperform various actions associated with the transaction via the digitalreceipt 150. The various actions, or interactions, performed via thedigital receipt include, for example: changing the payment account(associated with payment cards 322) from which funds are obtained tomake the payment for the transaction; add a tip amount in addition topayment amount authorized for the transaction; leave a feedback for themerchant 324; redeem a promotion reward offered by the merchant via thedigital receipt 160; review loyalty reward points with the merchant 324;and/or review all digital receipts from the merchant 324 (and othermerchants from other transactions conducted).

If the consumer utilizes change of payment account, then transactioncomputer system 130 sends the second payment account information and thetransaction information to financial system 120. In some embodiments,sending the information to financial system 120 includes sending thetransaction and payment account information to financial service 124. Insome embodiments, sending the information to financial system 120includes sending the transaction and payment account information toprocessing service 122, where processing service 122 makes adetermination to send the transaction and payment account information tofinancial service 124.

Returning to the description of FIG. 3A, financial service 124determines that the payment account of this example is managed bybanking service 126, and sends the transaction and payment accountinformation to banking service 126. For other payment accounts,financial service 124 may determine that a different bank manages thatpayment account. Financial service 124 can send the transaction andpayment account information to another banking service. Banking service126 determines the result of payment authorization, and sends the resultto transaction computer system 130. Upon receipt of the authorization,transaction computer system 130 ensures that funds for the payment willnot be taken from the payment account initially used for the payment.This can be done, for example, by canceling the payment authorization ofthe previous payment account. As a result of change of payment account,funds for the payment will be transferred from the second paymentaccount to the account associated with the merchant, and the initialpayment account will not contribute any funds for the payment.

In some embodiments, causing the transfer includes transaction computersystem 130 sending the transaction and payment account information toprocessing service 122. As discussed previously, processing service 122determines to send the transaction and payment account information tofinancial service 124. Financial service 124 performs from this point aspreviously described.

FIG. 4A illustrate a first embodiment of an interactive digital receiptimplemented on a personal computing device 400A. A personal computingdevice can be a smartphone (e.g., iPhone®, Android®-enabled phone,etc.), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a tablet, an e-reader, orother mobile or portable computing devices, a desktop, a laptop, orother wired and wireless personal computers. In the embodiment of FIG.4A, computing device 400A is an iPad®. Computing device 400A is equippedwith a display screen 402 for displaying various user interfaces toenable a user (e.g., customer) to interact with content generated on thecomputing device 400A.

Computing device 400A can implement an application, such as aninteractive receipt mobile application for use by a mobile user, wherethe interactive receipt mobile application includes one or more customerinterface components of interactive digital receipt 404. As used herein,the term “customer interactive component” refers to a component of auser interface intended for a customer to view and interact (e.g.,submit inputs) with various features offered via interactive digitalreceipt 404. Interactive digital receipt 404 includes informationindicative of the financial transaction, such as transaction information(e.g., payment amount and item description), and various features thatallow the customer to perform action associated with the transaction,subsequent to delivery of the receipt to the customer. While interactivedigital receipt 404 is embodied in a mobile application according to theembodiment of FIGS. 4A-4B, other embodiments of the receipt are possiblein light of the disclosure herein. In some embodiments, interactivedigital receipt 404 is embodied in a text message that can be receivedat a computing device (e.g., devices 400A, 400B). In some embodiment,interactive digital receipt 404 is embodied in an email message that canbe received at the computing device.

In some embodiments, transaction computer system 130 generatesinteractive digital receipt 404 for a customer after completion of afinancial transaction between the customer and a merchant (e.g., paymentauthorization and approval that occurs at the completion of a serviceand/or tendering of goods). Transaction computer system 130 thendelivers receipt 404 to the customer at the customer's computing device400A. In some embodiments, the transaction computer system 130 includesa digital receipt system 132 that carries out the functionalitiesassociated with implementing receipt 404.

Interactive digital receipt 404 is received and displayed on displayscreen 402 of the computing device 400A. Interactive digital receipt 404may take up an entirety or any portion of display screen 402.Interactive digital receipt 404 can include various content offered tothe customer. In the embodiment of FIG. 4A, interactive digital receipt404 includes a transaction component 406 and one or more interactivecomponents 408, 410, 412. The transaction component 406 displays detailsassociated with a particular transaction between the customer and themerchant, where the transaction details are displayed in real time inresponse to an occurrence of the particular transaction (e.g., paymenttransaction at the completion of a service). The interactive components408, 410, 412 display one or more features for the customer to interactor perform an action associated with the transaction. In someembodiments, the features are generated so as to be available via theinteractive digital receipt 404 only within a predefined time period.The predefined time period is configurable by the merchant and allowsthe merchant to provide time-based incentives to engage the customer.

The interactive components and general look and feel of interactivedigital receipt 404 can be configured according to a particularmerchant's needs. For example, a merchant in the business of sellinghousehold supplies can configure the interactive digital receipt togenerate a feedback component without generating a tipping component. Inanother example, a merchant in the business of operating a restaurantcan choose to have both the tipping and the feedback components begenerated in the interactive digital receipt 404. One of ordinary skillin the art will appreciate that other configurations and components arepossible.

FIG. 4B illustrates a second embodiment of an interactive digitalreceipt implemented on a personal computing device 400B. According tothe embodiment of FIG. 4B, the computing device 400B is a smartphone. InFIG. 4B, interactive digital receipt 404 includes transaction components406A, 406B, an interactive tipping component 420, an interactivefeedback component 430, an interactive promotion component 440, aninteractive loyalty rewards component 450, an interactive transactionrecords component 460, and an interactive payment accounts component470.

Transaction components 406A, 406B provide transaction informationassociated with the transaction. Transaction component 406A includes anoverview of the transaction completed between the customer and themerchant, such as the total amount of the transaction, the payment cardused for the transaction (e.g., proxy card name or last four digits of apayment card associated with the proxy card), the date, among others.Transaction component 406B includes details of the transaction, such asthe name of the items purchased, the quantity, the price, among others.

Interactive tipping component 420 (or, “tipping component”) allows thecustomer to submit a gratuity amount, or tip amount, at a later time,i.e., subsequent to completion of a financial transaction. An exampletransaction, for example, is payment for a meal, where the customer canleave a tip after she has left the restaurant using interactive digitalreceipt 404 on her computing device 400B, which has been delivered todevice 400B automatically after completion of payment. In someembodiments, transaction computer system 130 receives the customer's tipsubmission via interactive receipt 404 and communicates the amount tofinancial system 120. Financial system 120 adds the tip amount to thealready authorized payment amount and sends the updated authorization toPOS system 110 of the merchant, without requiring any additional paymentapproval from the customer. The merchant does not have to physicallyenter and request for an additional authorization for the tip amountfrom the financial system 120.

In some embodiment, tipping component 420 includes automaticallygenerated tip amounts based on a payment amount associated with thetransaction (e.g., 10%, 15%, or 20%). In some embodiments, tippingcomponent 420 includes a text box that allows the customer to enter anumber. In some embodiments, where interactive digital receipt 404 is inthe form of a text message, tipping component 420 is embodied in a textmessage prompting the customer to reply with an amount (e.g., “Tip byreply with dollar amount”). In some embodiments, tipping component 420is a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) link which takes the user to a webpage to allow adding of the tip amount. The link can be a part of a textmessage, a part of the text box within a mobile app, or an email.

In some embodiments, tipping component 420 is configured to be availablefor an unlimited time period. In some embodiments, tipping component 420is configured to be available for a predefined time period, ortimeframe, starting after a time instance when payment has beenauthorized and approved. The time period may be, for example, an hour, aday, a week, or any other desired time period (e.g., unlimited). In someembodiments, the time period is configured by the merchant. The timeperiod is initialized, or started, at a time instance at which thetransaction between the customer and merchant has completed, anddecreases incrementally, from this time instance, at a rate thatcorresponds to an ordinary passage of time. At the expiration of thetime period (i.e., the countdown reaches 0), the tipping feature becomesunavailable. In a real-world setting, such time limitation helps themerchant manage its financial transactions more efficiently. Forexample, a merchant often processes its financial transactions inbatches and would not want to keep any particular transaction openindefinitely.

In some embodiments, the time period of the tipping component 420 isconfigured to incorporate a user defined default tip amount. A customerdefines a nominal tip to be automatically submitted if no tip issubmitted at the time period expiration. For example, customer definesthe default tip to be $10 for her favorite restaurant to make sure thatmerchant always gets a tip. In such example, the $10 tip isautomatically authorized for any transaction with that restaurantwhenever no tip amount is added at the expiration. In some embodiments,the default tip amount may be defined by the merchant. For example, arestaurant merchant may want to configure a default nominal amount forrestaurant services to groups of six parties or more. In such example,when no tip is added to the payment amount at the end of a time period(e.g., 2 hours), an automatic 20% tip is added to the customer's paymentcard authorization.

Interactive feedback component 430 (or, “feedback component”) allows thecustomer to submit feedback after the completion of a particulartransaction with a merchant. The feedback may include submitting, forexample, a rating (e.g., 5 stars), a review, a suggestion, or the like,on various aspects of the transaction (e.g., store cleanliness, service,products, overall visit satisfaction, etc.). In some embodiments, thefeedback is submitted directly to the merchant. In some embodiments, adigital receipt system, coupled to transaction computer system,coordinates, communicates, and links with third party servicesassociated with the merchant in implementing the feedback feature. Insuch embodiments, the digital receipt system transmits the feedback,submitted by the customer via receipt 404, to the third party services.The third party services aggregate the feedback in association withother feedback provided by the merchant. Such third party services mayinclude, for example, Yelp.com, Urban Spoon, YP.com, and the like.

In some embodiments, feedback component 430 is configured to beavailable only for a predefined time period, or timeframe. In someembodiments, the time period associated with the feedback component 430(“feedback time period”) is configured to be the same as the time periodassociated with tipping component 420 (“tipping time period”). Forexample, the time periods for both may be set at one hour and at theexpiration of the hour, both the tipping and the feedback featuresbecome unavailable. In some embodiments, the feedback time period isconfigured to be different from the tipping time period. For example,the feedback time period may be set at one week while the tipping timeperiod may be set at one hour.

In some embodiments, the feedback time period is configured differentlydepending on a particular merchant. For example, merchant A configuresthe feedback time period to be one day while merchant B configures thetime period to be one week. In such example, feedback component becomesunavailable to the customer only on the receipt generated for merchantA, and the feedback component on the receipt generated for merchant Bremains active until the end of the week. In some embodiments, amerchant can configure the feedback time period to be tied to anincentive (i.e., “feedback reward”) to encourage feedback. For example,the customer is rewarded a “20% Off Coupon” incentive, or feedbackreward, if a written review is submitted before expiration of thefeedback time period. In another example, if the feedback is submittedwithin 10 minutes after the completion of the payment transaction, thereward is a 20% Off coupon; on the other hand, if the feedback issubmitted within 12 hours, but not exceeding the transaction time periodallowed for the feedback (e.g., 24 hours), the reward is a 5% coupon.

Interactive promotion component 440 (or, “promotion component”) allows aparticular merchant to engage and incentivize a customer to interactwith the merchant. In some embodiments, promotion component generatesone or more promotional rewards (or, “promotion”) associated with thecompleted transaction. For example, merchant A provides a coupon thatcan be redeemed at merchant B, an affiliated business with merchant A.In some embodiments, the promotion is time-based, where the customermust redeem the reward within a predefined period, or timeframe. In suchembodiments, the promotion is configured to reduce, or decrease invalue, corresponding to a decrease in the passage of time associatedwith the time period. The time period associated with the promotioncomponent 440 (“promotion time period”) may be configured to be the sameas, or different from, the feedback time period, and/or the tipping timeperiod.

In one example, a “$10 off” coupon is generated via the interactivedigital receipt for the customer to redeem at a next meal with themerchant. Such $10 coupon is set to decrease in value (i.e., until $0)from the moment the coupon is generated subsequent to the transaction atthe merchant's store. As such, the sooner the customer redeems thetime-based coupon, the higher the value she receives. In someembodiments, the merchant configures the rate of reduction. In oneexample, the restaurant sets the $10 coupon to expire after a week, withno reduction in value as long as the coupon is redeemed. In anotherexample, the restaurant sets the $10 coupon to expire after 3 days,where the value reduces each day until the value reaches $0 at the endof the third day.

In some embodiments, the customer redeems the promotion by completingvarious redemption, or promotional, activities. Details of theactivities may be displayed in the promotion component 440. Someredemption activities include simply revisiting the merchant to makeanother purchase for goods and/or services, as discussed in the exampleabove. Other redemption activities include participating in a game viathe computing device 400B. Some redemption activities includeparticipating in activities with other affiliated merchants. Theredemption activity and the decreasing rate of the time-based reward maybe configured by the merchant offering the reward. Such configurationsare beneficial as they allow the merchant to customize the promotionsaccording to the merchant's business, such as tailoring to anadvertising campaign or a targeted customer demographic.

In some embodiments, promotion component 440 operates as anadvertisement component to promote products and/or services. Suchadvertisement includes, for example, a promotional reward to entice theuser to “click-on” or select a particular offering being displayed. Inanother example, the advertisement includes a plain display with nointeraction required from the customer, where the interaction comes fromthe advertisement content changing to attract the customer's attention.The advertisement content can change based on the completed transactionfor which the receipt 404 has been generated. For example, for a coffeepurchase transaction, the advertisement includes information about asustainable coffee alliance organization. The advertisement can alsoinclude information about nearby merchants associated with the venuewhere the completed transaction has taken place. In some embodiments,the interactive advertisement component is coupled to the interactivetransaction record, where advertisement content is changed based ondetails extracted from the interactive transaction record.

Interactive loyalty rewards component 450 (or, “loyalty recordcomponent”) allows the customer to maintain and manage loyalty pointsassociated with a particular merchant. Some merchants, for example,choose to reward loyal customers with reward points for their purchasesand/or services transacted with the merchant. Loyalty record component450 tracks those purchases and/or services over time, stores and updatesreward points associated with the purchases and/or services, andmaintains a membership status of the customer in relation to aparticular merchant. In some embodiments, the loyalty record componentis configured to be time-based, where the component tracks and maintainsthe loyalty status and/or rewards based on a predefined time period. Forexample, the loyalty record component upgrades the loyalty status of theconsumer every month, where it calculates the transactions completed bythe consumer within the month. The time period associated with theloyalty record component 450 (“loyalty time period”) may be configuredto be the same as, or different from, time periods associated with otherinteractive components of the interactive receipt.

In an illustrative example, the rewards record tracks the number ofbaked goods bought from merchant A's bakery and updates the customer toan “elite status” in relation to that bakery when the customer hasbought 10 items within 5 days. The elite status is displayed in theloyalty record component 450. The customer can redeem for a reward atthe bakery with the loyalty record. In some embodiments, the merchant'sPOS system can communicate with the loyalty record component 450 withoutneed for the customer to physically show the loyalty record at time ofredemption.

Interactive transaction records component 460 (“transaction recordscomponent”). Transaction records component 460 includes one or moreinteractive digital receipts that has resulted from one or morefinancial transactions carried out by the customer with one or moremerchants. In some embodiments, transaction records component 460 isconfigured to include only interactive digital receipts associated witha particular merchant. In some embodiments, transaction recordscomponent 460 is configured to include all interactive digital receiptsassociated with the customer, including receipts associated withdifferent merchants with whom the customer has transacted. Theinteractive transaction record allows the customer to organize herinteractive digital receipts, to maintain a comprehensive view of allpayment transactions, and to perform one or more actions associated withthose transactions via respective interactive components of thereceipts. Other interactive components not discussed above, butconsistent with the techniques discussed throughout, may also beenvisioned by one of ordinary skill in the art based on the disclosedtechnology.

Interactive payment accounts component 470 (or, “payment accountscomponent”) allows the customer to maintain and change payment accounts,or financial accounts, associated with a particular financialtransaction in which a payment object (e.g., proxy card) is utilized.The payment accounts component allows a customer to review details aboutthe transaction, including the payment accounts that are associated withthe consumer's payment object and the particular payment accountselected for payment in a particular transaction. In some embodiments,the payment accounts component allows the consumer to change theselected payment account to another payment account associated with thepayment object. For example, the consumer, after leaving the merchant'splace of business, remembers she has unused credits in a gift card, andaccesses the payment accounts component to select the gift card, insteadof a VISA credit card, to pay for the transaction. In some embodiments,the payment accounts component 470 is configured to be time-based, wherethe component enables the consumer to change payment accounts within apredefined time period. For example, the consumer is able to change theselected payment accounts only within one hour after the transaction hasbeen completed (e.g., after authorization and approval). In anotherexample, the consumer is able to change the selected payment accountswithin 24 hours after the transaction.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method 500 for processing a payment madeusing a payment object, where a digital receipt is generated uponpayment authorization of a payment card associated with the paymentobject. Method 500 may be implemented by a payment processing system,such as the one in the example of FIG. 3A. For method 500, consider ascenario where a consumer purchases a coffee from a merchant usingpayment object in the form of a proxy card 102. In such an example,consumer makes a payment using the proxy card by presenting the proxycard to the merchant. An object identifier associated with the merchantcan obtain proxy card information from the proxy card. The objectidentifier can be any of object identifier examples discussed in FIG. 2.The object identifier can send the proxy card information and thetransaction information to a payment processing system, such astransaction computer system 130.

At steps 502 and 504, the computer system 130 receives transactioninformation and proxy card information. Transaction computer system 130then processes the payment made using the object. At step 506, computersystem 130 selects one or more of the payment accounts associated withthe object to use to pay for the transaction. The algorithm that thecomputer system 130 uses to select the one or more payment account canmake the selection based on any of various criteria, and the consumercan be given the ability to modify those criteria (e.g., via a websiteassociated with computer system 130). For example, the algorithm canselect the same payment account for all payments made using the object.In the case, consumer can be given the ability to change the paymentaccount that is chosen. As a second example, the algorithm can select anappropriate payment account for each purchase transaction, and ifdesired, for each line item of the purchase transaction. For example,the algorithm might select an Exxon credit card for gas purchases, and aVISA credit card for items purchased at a grocer. If the consumerpurchases gas and snacks at one store, the algorithm might, for example,select the Exxon card to pay for the gas purchase and select the VISAcard to pay for the snack purchase.

At step 508, transaction computer system 130 accesses a database thatincludes stored association information representing an associationbetween the payment object and multiple payment accounts. Theassociation information can be, for example, links between the paymentobject and the multiple payment accounts. When the payment object is aproxy card, the consumer can, for example, enter the card number of theproxy card using a web site associated with computer system 130. Theconsumer can then enter the card number of a first payment card usingthe website. Computer system 130 then links (associates) the firstpayment card with the proxy card, such as by using a database.

The consumer can similarly link additional payment cards with the proxycard. The linkages in the database between the proxy card and themultiple payment accounts are association information stored in thedatabase. The database can have further association information, such asthe name of the consumer, the consumer's address, credit reportinformation regarding the consumer, and the like. This additionalinformation further associates the proxy card and the multiple paymentaccounts, as the proxy card and the payment accounts are all associatedwith the consumer, and are associated with each other by this commonassociation with the customer. The database can also include additionalassociation information.

When accessing the database, this association information can beretrieved from the database. For example, computer system 130 can usethe payment object information received during step 504 as an index intothe database. One of the entries in the database can be a list ofpayment accounts associated with the proxy card. Computer system 130 canretrieve this list of payment accounts, and can further retrieve paymentaccount information from the database.

At step 510, transaction computer system 130 causes an authorization forthe payment to be sent. As a first example, transaction computer system130 sends the transaction information and the selected payment accountinformation to financial system 120. The financial system can determineif the payment account has access to adequate funds to make the payment,and can authorize the payment when adequate access is available.Financial system 120 can send the authorization for the purchase to theobject identifier, such as POS system 110. As a second example,transaction computer system 130 causes the authorization to be sent bysending the authorization. The authorization can be sent to the objectidentifier, such as POS system 110. The authorization can alternately besent to financial system 120, which can relay the authorization to theobject identifier. Transaction computer system 130 can decide thepayment authorization based on information such as the consumer's creditreports or scores and the history of past payments processed bytransaction computer system 130.

At step 512, transaction computer system 130 causes funds to betransferred from the payment account to an account associated with themerchant. Step 512 occurs in the scenario where the customer does notchange the payment account. In such scenario, the action in step 510 ofcausing the payment authorization, unless prevented from taking effect,such as by canceling the payment, causes funds to be transferred fromthe payment account to the merchant's account.

At step 514, transaction computer system 130 generates a digital receiptindicative of the financial transaction for the customer. Steps 514-520can occur after step 510 upon payment authorization. The digital receiptgenerated by computer system 130 includes one or more interactivecomponents that allow the customer to interact with various featuresassociated with the transaction. At step 516, computer system 130delivers the digital receipt to the customer at a personal computingdevice. The device may be the device 140 of FIG. 1, device 400A of FIG.4A, or device 400B of FIG. 4B. Upon transmission of the digital receiptto the customer's computing device, a predetermined transaction timeperiod is initiated to specify a time period at which the customer isallowed to interact (e.g., submit inputs) with one or more interactivecomponents via the digital receipt.

At step 518, transaction computer system 130 determines whether the timeperiod has expired. At step 520, the transaction computer system 130processes the transaction in accordance with one or more interactionssubmitted by the customer (if any) to interact with the interactivecomponents. For example, if during the time period, the customer hassubmitted inputs associated with a promotional game offered via thedigital receipt, transaction computer system 130 can cause a promotionalreward to be generated for the customer. In another example, if duringthe time period, the customer has submitted feedback, transactioncomputer system 130 can cause the feedback to be transmitted to themerchant. In some embodiments, transaction computer system 130 causesthe feedback to be transmitted to third parties that collect feedbackassociated with the merchant. In some embodiments, some or all of steps514-520 are implemented by a digital receipt system coupled to thecomputer system 130, where the digital receipt system is a dedicatedsystem configured to generate the digital receipt and to process theinteractions associated with the interactive components.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a method 600 for processing a change ofpayment account associated with the payment object used in a financialtransaction. Method 600 can occur after step 510 of process 500 of FIG.5, for example. For method 600, consider a scenario after the paymenttransaction has been approved, when the consumer wishes to change thepayment account (or financial account) used for the transaction. It isnoted that the consumer only has a window of time to change the paymentaccount. The window of time is, at most, the time period from the pointin time at which authorization for a payment has been granted until thepoint in time at which funds actually get transferred from the financialaccount to an account associated with the merchant. The window of timecan be configured by the banking service, the financial service, thetransaction computer system, or any combination thereof, for example, byvarying the latter point in time. For example, the banking service maydecide to transfer funds in a batch process that is executed nightly.Alternatively, the financial service may request that funds forauthorized payments be batch processed every two hours by the bankingservice.

In some embodiments, the consumer is able to change the payment accountvia an interactive component associated with an interactive receiptreceived at the consumer's computing device. In such embodiments, thewindow of time affects the time period at which the interactivecomponent is available to the consumer. For example, a payment accountscomponent is offered via the receipt only within the window of time toallow the consumer to select a different payment account via theinteractive receipt.

At step 602, transaction computer system 130 causes informationassociated with the payment accounts to be displayed. In this scenario,for example, the customer may have completed the purchase and alreadyleft the merchant's place of business with the purchased goods. Uponarriving home, the customer can decide to change the payment account touse for the payment. The customer can initiate communications withtransaction computer system 130 using a computing device, such as thecustomer's smartphone, tablet computer, or desktop computer. In someembodiments, the transaction computer system 130 causes a window of timeto display for the consumer to identify whether or not the change ispossible. In some embodiments, the transaction computer system 130 doesnot display the window of time and merely sends a message to theconsumer that change of financial account is declined in response to achange request. Transaction computer system 130 obtains the listing ofpayment accounts associated with the proxy object. Transaction computersystem 130 sends or causes to be sent the listing of payment accounts tothe customer's computing device. The customer can use the computingdevice to select a second payment account to use for the payment, andfrom which funds for the payment are to be taken, instead of theinitially selected account.

At step 604, the transaction computer system 130 receives selectioninformation indicating a selection of a second payment account by theconsumer. At step 606, transaction computer system 130 causes funds tobe transferred from the second payment account to the merchant'saccount. In particular, transaction computer system 130 sends thetransaction information and the second payment account information tofinancial system 120. This is done to cause the funds for the payment tocome from the second payment account rather than the first paymentaccount. Financial system 120 authorizes the payment using the secondpayment account, and sends a payment authorization to transactioncomputer system 130. Transaction computer system 130 can also preventfunds for the payment from being obtained from the first paymentaccount. For example, transaction computer system 130 sends informationto financial system 120 that causes the payment and/or the paymentauthorization to be canceled.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of a computer system in whichoperations described herein can be executed. In the example of FIG. 7,the computer system 700 includes a processor 702, memory 704,non-volatile memory 706, and an interface device 708. Various commoncomponents (e.g., cache memory) are omitted for illustrative simplicity.The computer system 700 is intended to illustrate a hardware device onwhich any of the components depicted in the examples of FIGS. 1-6 (andany other components described in this specification) can beimplemented. In some embodiments, a given component described above maybe implemented by two or more physical computer systems such as computersystem 700 in FIG. 7, which may be coupled to each other via one or morenetworks. The computer system 700 can be of any known or convenienttype. The components of the computer system 700 can be coupled togethervia one or more buses, bridges, adapters, point-to-point connectionsand/or any other known or convenient form(s) of interconnect.

The computer system 700 can take any suitable physical form. As example,computer system 700 may be an embedded computer system, a system-on-chip(SOC), a single-board computer system (SBC) (such as, for example, acomputer-on-module (COM) or system-on-module (SOM)), a desktop computersystem, a laptop or notebook computer system, an interactive kiosk, amainframe computer, a mesh of computer systems, a mobile telephone, apersonal digital assistant (PDA), a server, or a combination of two ormore of these. Where appropriate, computer system 700 may include one ormore computer systems 700; be unitary or distributed; span multiplelocations; span multiple machines; or reside in a cloud, which mayinclude one or more cloud components in one or more networks. Whereappropriate, one or more computer systems 700 may perform withoutsubstantial spatial or temporal limitation one or more steps of one ormore methods described or illustrated herein. As an example, one or morecomputer systems 700 may perform in real time or in batch mode one ormore steps of one or more methods described or illustrated herein. Oneor more computer systems 700 may perform at different times or atdifferent locations one or more steps of one or more methods describedor illustrated herein, where appropriate.

The processor 702 can be or include, for example, a conventionalprogrammable microprocessor, microcontroller, application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), programmable logic device (PLD), or the like,or a combination of such devices.

The memory 704 is coupled to the processor by, for example, a bus. Thememory can be or include, for example, random access memory (RAM), suchas dynamic RAM (DRAM) or static RAM (SRAM). The memory can be local,remote, or distributed.

The interconnect 710 couples the processor 702 to the non-volatilememory 706 and drive unit 718. The non-volatile memory 706 can be orinclude, for example, a magnetic floppy or hard disk, a magnetic-opticaldisk, an optical disk, a flash memory such as NAND flash memory or NORflash memory, a read-only memory (ROM) such as a CD-ROM, a programmableread-only memory such as EPROM or EEPROM, a magnetic or optical card, oranother form of storage for large amounts of data. Some of this data isoften written, by a direct memory access process, into memory duringexecution of software in the computer 700. The non-volatile storage canbe local, remote, or distributed. The non-volatile memory is optionalbecause systems can be created with all applicable data available inmemory.

The interconnect 710 couples the processor 702 to the network interfacedevice 708. The interface 708 can include one or more of a modem ornetwork interface. A person of ordinary skill will appreciate that amodem or network interface can be considered to be part of the computersystem 700. The interface 708 can include an analog modem, ISDN modem,cable modem, token ring interface, satellite transmission interface(e.g. “direct PC”), Wi-Fi interface, or other interfaces for coupling acomputer system to other computer systems. The interface 708 can becoupled to one or more input and/or output devices. The I/O devices caninclude, by way of example, a keyboard 714, a mouse or other pointingdevice 716, disk drives, printers, a scanner, and other input and/oroutput devices, including a display device 712. The display device 712can include, by way of example, a cathode ray tube (CRT), liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), or some other applicable known or convenient displaydevice. For simplicity, this disclosure assumes that controllers of anydevices not depicted in the example of FIG. 7 reside in the interface.

The interconnect 710 can be or include for example, a system bus, aHyperTransport or industry standard architecture (ISA) bus, a smallcomputer system interface (SCSI) bus, a universal serial bus (USB, USB2.0, USB 3.0), IIC (I2C) bus, a ThunderBolt interconnect bus, aDisplayPort interconnect bus or its companion standards Mini DisplayPort(mDP), Embedded DisplayPort (eDP), Internal DisplayPort (iDP), PortableDigital Media Interface (PDMI), Wireless DisplayPort (wDP), and MobilityDisplayPort (MyDP), an HDMI interconnect bus, a DVI bus.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: receiving, at a computersystem and from a point-of-sale (POS) system associated with a payee, anindication of a financial transaction between a payer and the payee, thefinancial transaction involving use of a payment object associated withthe payer to pay for products or services provided by the payee in thefinancial transaction; receiving, by the computer system, a notificationof payment authorization of a particular payment account associated withthe payment object for charging a payment associated with the financialtransaction; and in response to the payment authorization of theparticular payment account, automatically transmitting, by the computersystem over a network to a computing device associated with the payer, adigital receipt indicative of the financial transaction, the digitalreceipt including a time-based interactive feedback component thatenables the payer to input feedback to the time-based interactivefeedback component, the feedback associated with the products orservices relating to the financial transaction.
 2. The method of claim1, wherein the digital receipt is transmitted to the computing deviceassociated with the payer for delivery to the payer at a display of thecomputing device.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital receiptis transmitted to the computing device associated with the payer via anelectronic message including any of an email address or a text message.4. The method of claim 3, wherein the digital receipt is transmitted tothe computing device associated with the payer via a mobile receiptapplication.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmittingthe feedback to a third-party that aggregates a set of feedbackassociated with the payee.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:associating the payment object with a plurality of payment accounts; andcausing the particular payment account to be selected from the pluralityof payment accounts for charging the payment to the particular paymentaccount.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of paymentaccounts comprise any of a loyalty program account, a credit cardaccount, a debit card account, a gift card account, or a fleet cardaccount.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the particular paymentaccount is selected from the plurality of payment accounts based on atransaction item of the financial transaction.
 9. The method of claim 6,wherein the digital receipt further includes a payment accountscomponent that allows the payer to input a user selection to change theparticular payment account selected to another payment accountassociated with the payment object.
 10. The method of claim 1, whereinthe digital receipt further includes an interactive tipping componentthat allows the payer to input a tip amount associated with thefinancial transaction within a specified time period.
 11. The method ofclaim 10, further comprising: receiving the tip amount input by thepayer within the specified time period; and causing funds to betransferred from the particular payment account associated with thepayment object to an account associated with the payee, wherein thefunds is based on the tip amount input.
 12. The method of claim 1,further comprising: causing, based on the financial transaction beingcharged to the particular payment account, funds to be transferred fromthe particular payment account associated with the payment object to anaccount associated with the payee.
 13. The method of claim 1, whereinthe payment object is a payment card.
 14. The method of claim 1, whereinthe payment object is a biometrically identifiable object.
 15. A methodcomprising: receiving, at a computer system and from a POS systemassociated with a merchant, transaction information of a paymenttransaction between the merchant and a consumer, the payment transactioninvolving use of a payment card associated with the consumer at the POSsystem; receiving, by the computer system, a notification of paymentauthorization of a particular payment account associated with thepayment card for charging a payment associated with the financialtransaction; based on the payment authorization of the particularpayment account, generating, by the computer system on behalf of the POSsystem, a digital receipt indicative of the payment transaction; andtransmitting automatically, by the computer system over a network, thedigital receipt to an account associated with the consumer for viewingat a computing device associated with the consumer, the digital receiptincluding: a time-based interactive feedback component that prompts andenables the consumer to input, via the computing device, feedback forthe payment transaction.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:transmitting, by the computer system and to a third-party aggregator,the feedback for the payment transaction, wherein the third-partyaggregator aggregates other feedback provided for the merchant with thefeedback for the payment transaction.
 17. The method of claim 15,wherein the account is associated with any of an email address, a phonenumber, or a mobile application.
 18. The method of claim 15, furthercomprising: associating the payment card with a plurality of paymentaccounts; and causing the particular payment account to be selected fromthe plurality of payment accounts for charging the payment to theparticular payment account.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein theplurality of payment accounts comprise any of a loyalty program account,a credit card account, a debit card account, a gift card account, or afleet card account; and wherein the particular payment account isselected from the plurality of payment accounts based on a transactionitem of the financial transaction.
 20. A system comprising: acommunication device through which to communicate with remote devices; aprocessor coupled to the communication device; and a memory coupled tothe processor, the memory storing instructions which when executed bythe processor cause the system to perform operations including:receiving, from a point-of-sale (POS) system associated with a payee, anindication of a financial transaction between a payer and the payee, thefinancial transaction involving use of a payment object associated withthe payer to pay for at least one of products or services provided bythe payee in the financial transaction; receiving a notification ofpayment authorization of a particular payment account associated withthe payment object for charging a payment associated with the financialtransaction; in response to the payment authorization of the particularpayment account, generating a digital receipt indicative of thefinancial transaction; transmitting automatically, over a computernetwork, the digital receipt to an account associated with the payer forviewing at a computing device associated with the payer, the digitalreceipt including a time-based interactive feedback component thatallows the consumer to input, to the time-based interactive feedbackcomponent via the computing device, feedback associated with the atleast one of the products or services relating to the paymenttransaction; and transmitting automatically, over the computer network,the feedback input by the consumer to any of the payee or a third-partyaggregator that aggregates a set of feedback associated with the payee.